EBay to discontinue Keywords program in September

[cranky_hippie]

looks like more screwing going on.

Ebay Keyword Ads RETIRING 
buriedbybooks  (950 )  View Listings | Report  Jul-25-06 14:23 PDT 
Just found out from customer service that Ebay Keyword ads are being retired. Yahoo is replacing them--and I had no response about the effect on Featured free keyword allotments...

Thank you for writing eBay in regard to the eBay keyword ads. I realize
the importance of the issue and I'll surely help you to resolve it.

Please understand that, in the next several months eBay will retire
eBay's Keyword program. We realize that sellers have wanted better
service and support than has been provided through our current eBay
Keywords program. Yahoo! will assume responsibility for all sponsored
search ads on eBay. eBay sellers who have purchased eBay Keywords will
have the ability to use Yahoo!'s self-serve automated tools to purchase
sponsored search ads.

As we get closer to retiring the eBay Keywords program, we will keep the
community informed via the General Announcement board.

http://forums.ebay.com/db2/thread.jspa?t...2000186168&tstart=0&mod=1153862631710

[amy]

[quote author=cranky_hippie link=topic=4456.msg18666#msg18666 date=1153862996]
looks like more screwing going on.

Ebay Keyword Ads RETIRING 
buriedbybooks  (950 )  View Listings | Report  Jul-25-06 14:23 PDT 
Just found out from customer service that Ebay Keyword ads are being retired. Yahoo is replacing them--and I had no response about the effect on Featured free keyword allotments...

Thank you for writing eBay in regard to the eBay keyword ads. I realize
the importance of the issue and I'll surely help you to resolve it.

Please understand that, in the next several months eBay will retire
eBay's Keyword program. We realize that sellers have wanted better
service and support than has been provided through our current eBay
Keywords program. Yahoo! will assume responsibility for all sponsored
search ads on eBay. eBay sellers who have purchased eBay Keywords will
have the ability to use Yahoo!'s self-serve automated tools to purchase
sponsored search ads.

As we get closer to retiring the eBay Keywords program, we will keep the
community informed via the General Announcement board.

http://forums.ebay.com/db2/thread.jspa?t...2000186168&tstart=0&mod=1153862631710
[/quote]

Shouldn't they put a message in their marketing pages for featured stores telling prospective Featured Store owners this information NOW so people will know this info before they signup/upgrade thinking they'll receive keywords for the extra $33 monthly they're paying?  :

[iConcepts]

Shouldn't they put a message in their marketing pages for featured stores telling prospective Featured Store owners this information NOW so people will know this info before they signup/upgrade thinking they'll receive keywords for the extra $33 monthly they're paying?  Roll Eyes

eBay acting with any sense of integrity? I think that requires suspending anything resembling reality....or some very good drugs.

Bob

[iron_chick]

A Google sponsored link:

Open an Ebay Store
Open an Ebay Store in just minutes.
Start a 30 Day Free Trial today!
www.ebayLSOSBsstores.com

url edited

[Anita]

[quote author=iron_chick link=topic=4456.msg18692#msg18692 date=1153910628]
A Google sponsored link:

Open an Ebay Store
Open an Ebay Store in just minutes.
Start a 30 Day Free Trial today!
www.ebayLSOSBsstores.com

url edited
[/quote]

;D ;D ;D

[mandy]

(The first 5 posts in this topic were split from an eBay fee hike announcement topic)

Update:  the official announcement from eBay:

***eBay Keywords Program Being Discontinued***

August 23, 2006 | 01:00PM PST/PT


eBay will be discontinuing the eBay Keywords program at the end of September. The program, which allowed eBay sellers to bid for keywords for text ad placements, will be phased out as follows:

    * The week of September 5th, existing eBay Keywords text box ad placements will be removed from search results pages. eBay Keywords customers will still have access to larger graphical ad placements through the end of the month.
    * On September 30th the program will close. (No ad placement inventory will be available for the eBay Keywords program.)

The eBay Keywords program has been used by a very small percentage of eBay members since its launch in 2003. Sellers who have participated in the eBay Keywords program will receive an email with more information about the closing of the eBay Keywords program.

[bargainbloodhound]

Keywords are no longer mentioned on the Featured Stores Benefits page.
http://pages.ebay.com/storefronts/featured.html

Apparently the main benefit of upgrading to featured now is a $5 discount on monthly Picture Manager subscription fees.  :twistedevil:

[thentavius]

I'm surprised they didn't roll this one "back" during November.

[bargainbloodhound]

[quote author=thentavius link=topic=4868.msg21433#msg21433 date=1156446268]
I'm surprised they didn't roll this one "back" during November.
[/quote]

November is reserved for search changes

[BellisimaJ.]

[quote author=bargainbloodhound link=topic=4868.msg21432#msg21432 date=1156446004]

Apparently the main benefit of upgrading to featured now is a $5 discount on monthly Picture Manager subscription fees.  :twistedevil:
[/quote]



Actually, I am surprised that they didn't simply leave the info on the Featured Stores Benefits page---it certainly wouldn't be the first incident of false advertising on that site!!